Mars is scheduled to make the announcement that he has invited the group to appear at the big game during Fox's coverage of the New Orleans Saints-Seattle Seahawks playoff contest on Saturday, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

Currently on tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were already lined up to play a pre-Super Bowl bash in Brooklyn on Feb. 1, hosted by sports radio station WFAN-AM in New York.

An NFL spokesman referred a request for comment to Mars' spokeswoman, who declined to say whether the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be appearing with the singer.

The addition of the group will likely broaden the appeal of the halftime show beyond Mars' fan base and appeal to older viewers. (Not that anyone who listens to the Red Hot Chili Peppers thinks of themselves as old.)

Because this year's game is in a cold-weather area, hopefully the band will wear more than socks when they perform.